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Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 6; suggested age 6.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Sweet and engaging adventure for all ages.

updated 12.01.08

Why We Rated This on for Ages 6 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Even though the rich pick on the poor, the disenfranchised pick on hobos and are rude to them, and young bullies needle other children, Kit and her friends work together to rise above the fray, and they do the right thing. Kit's mother is truly a rock, a stabilizing force in a turbulent time.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness :

    No outright violence, though two men who appear to be thieves bicker, and bullies at school pick on children who are perceived to be poor. Thieves also chase down children who've figured out that they're criminals.
  • Sexy stuff :

    Very mild flirtation between two characters.
  • Language:

    "Moron" is as strong as it gets.
  • Consumerism:

    Period-accurate product placement, like the National Trailways bus line, Smoot's Board House, etc. More notably, this film is part of the American Girl family, a hugely popular brand among young girls and tweens that includes toys, books, DVDs, and much more.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

Parents need to know that kids (especially girls) who are familiar with the vast array of American Girl products (dolls, books, DVDs, etc.) will definitely want to see this movie. The good news is that it's entertaining and even thought-provoking, so it doesn't feel like just a way to sell more stuff (though it probably will do exactly that). And it doesn't depart from the age-appropriateness of the brand -- if anything, it's even tamer than some of the direct-to-DVD movies. There's no swearing; very little violence; and plenty of positive messages. Even kids who've never read an American Girl book will have plenty to enjoy.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about why kids want to see this movie -- is it because of the story or because they're already familiar with the American Girl brand? If kids are already familiar with Kit's story from the book, ask them how well the movie brings it to life. How does it compare to what they imagined? Families can also discuss what they learned about the Great Depression from watching the movie. Did you know what a hobo was? Why do they make people nervous? Why is it important that Kit's family welcomes hobos and boarders into their home?
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See all 27 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Kentucky
    Kids ages: 7, 11, 13
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0

      • My highlights are:
      • Positive messages

      A movie for all ages.

      I really enjoyed this movie. I thought that it was a good family movie.

    • Adult Reviewer
      Lives in Washington
      I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

        • My highlights are:
        • Educational
        • Positive messages
        • Good role models

        Well done, enjoyed by all

        I watched this movie with my two daughters, and we all enjoyed it from start to finish. It was a great way to learn about the Great Depression and the challenges of that time, and it also led into a lot of discussions about kindness, courage, and honesty. Very well done, and we will watch it again!

      • Kid Reviewer
        Age 11
        Lives in Texas
        I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

        This is one of the best movies I have ever seen! Abigail Breslin is terrific in it. There is absolutely nothing in it that I wouldn't want my kid to see.

      • Teen Reviewer
        Age 13
        Lives in Florida
        I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0

      • Teen Reviewer
        Age 13
        Lives in Ohio
        I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 4.0

        It's actually not that bad; pretty good!

        I saw this movie, and to tell you the truth, I'm NOT an American Girl fan at all. But, this movie was pretty good and it wasn't really stupid. It's about the depression and some parts are pretty sad. It's not very American Girlish, in my opinion. I think it's something anyone will enjoy. Oh, and parents, you don't need to worry about anything in this movie. It's clean and there's no swearing or anything that would raise a concern.

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